News

The Property Funds Association of Australia (PFA), the peak body which represents the unlisted property funds industry in Australia, has urged minimal changes to the wholesale investor test thresholds for managed investment schemes, which is currently being reviewed by government.

New legislation regarding Unfair Contract Terms for financial products comes into effect on 9 November 2023. The new legislation will affect more unlisted property funds than the current UCT regime because it applies to contracts with a broader range of customers.

When considering trends related to ESG and commercial property, Jamie Wallis, Senior Manager of Market Engagement at the Green Building Council of Australia, says risks are increasingly associated with the impact of climate change.

Abi is a Partner of SW Audit and a Director of SW Accountants & Advisors. She has over 17 years’ experience in providing tax advice and tax compliance services to a wide range of clients, but with particular emphasis on the funds management industry. Abi’s clients include a number of ASX listed and wholesale property funds, equity funds, debt funds, corporate entities and large complex private groups. Abi is also an active committee member of the Property Council of Australia’s state taxes committee.

ASIC released a report on how investment product issuers are meeting the financial product Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO), which have now been in place for two years. The regulator said product issuers need to do better, and expressed disappointment in the level of DDO deficiencies.

What should building owners do when faced with the need to replace a run-down B to C grade building and achieve a 6 star Nabers rating: pull down and rebuild, or refurbish?

Commercial property investment is just one way Indigenous Business Australia seeks to enhance economic development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.

There needs to be greater value placed on portfolio construction to reduce risk in allocating commercial real estate portfolios, according to Jennifer Johnstone-Kaiser, Principal Consultant and Property Leader at Frontier Advisors, who was speaking at the PFA 2023 Conference in Canberra.

Tighter credit markets have seen commercial property deals slow in Australia for the first quarter of 2023, according to Benjamin Martin-Henry, Head of Pacific Real Assets Research at MSCI, who was presenting at the Property Funds Association of Australia (PFA) 2023 Conference in Canberra.

Melissa Kingham, Executive Director and Fund Manager at specialist retail property investment house, Haben, has been announced as the new President of Property Funds Association of Australia (PFA). Ms Kingham will be the first female president of the PFA.

The Albanese government has announced a review of the Managed Investment Scheme (MIS) framework, and has already flagged the review will scrutinise property funds.

Jodie Masson founded specialist commercial property law firm Massons in 2016, together with her business partner Leisha de Aboitiz, following a career with some of the big global law firms. Jodie has been a PFA member and supporter for more than a decade.